Digital Commons Network^™

Stakeholder Perspectives On The Status And Conservation Management Of Critically Endangered Nassau Grouper In The Bahamas, Krista D. Sherman, Lester Gittens

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Ensuring the sustainability of marine resources that provide food, economic security and other critical ecosystem services is a major challenge globally. Assessing stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions of the status of fisheries and how they should be managed can yield important insights to facilitate the development of management frameworks that are likely to assist with achieving sustainability. As a socioeconomically and culturally important and critically endangered species, evaluating stakeholder perspectives on the status of the Nassau Grouper fishery is critical to help inform policy. Knowledge and perceptions of stakeholders working in The Bahamas were assessed using voluntary participatory approaches, including a …

Mysteries Of The Bryozoans, Judith E. Winston

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Marine bryozoans have about 6,000 living species and many fossil species going back to the early Ordovician. As suspension feeders they can be an important part of keeping the ocean healthy. Yet, as colonial organisms, even though present in habitats from estuaries and continental shelves to the deep sea, they are often treated as background for mobile organisms. There is still much to learn about their lives and relationships. This Ocean Reflection describes my career as a museum scientist from the 1970s to today, beginning at a time when it was often difficult as a woman to find a way …

Temporal And Spatial Changes In Phytoplankton Communities In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Justin Osborne, Jeneil Patel, Jennifer L. Debose

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Anthropology In The Real World, Chastity B. Nix, Cheyenne Taylor

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Anthropology is a field that likely isn’t the first to come to mind for many. Despite this, it has proven to be a great major for learning skills that are applicable to many different career paths. ANT 4861, Beyond the Anthropology Major, has not only taught us this but also made us realize just how much the general public as well as employers are missing by not being educated on Anthropological skills. Our project here is meant to highlight how little the average person is aware of what anthropology is and how employers, even those looking for anthropological knowledge, are …

The Impact Of Caffeine On Neurotransmitter Production By Lactobacillus Spp., Angela Caruso

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Caffeine, a prevalent stimulant, has inconclusive effects on the gut-brain axis. Key probiotics such as Lactobacillus play a chief role in gut health and neurotransmitter production. These bacteria are able to effectively influence brain function and overall health. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of caffeine on Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus reuteri to determine antagonistic or synergistic effects on the bacteria’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production and synthesis of serotonin-related metabolites.

The methodology for this work begins with treating bacterial cultures with varying concentrations of caffeine and then incubating at 37ºC for 48 hours. Supernatants …

Gaba And Dopamine Dual Therapy: A Potential Treatment For A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Ahmed Abdalla, Jemimah Olajide

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most prevalent cancer in the United States, with approximately 230,000 new cases and 125,000 deaths reported yearly, according to the American Cancer Society. Annually, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Recent research has shown that GABA and dopamine independently induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Parameters such as LD50 and IC50 are essential to determine optimal concentration for human toxicity and CI analysis can be utilized to understand the synergistic interactions between two agents. In this research project, the relative effectiveness of GABA and dopamine …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Fish Oil Supplements At Reducing The Recurrence Of Atrial Fibrillation, Timothy J. Horanic

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

The purpose of my project, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplements at Reducing the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation, was to analyze whether omega-3 fatty acids could lower the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence compared to a placebo. AF is an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that can lead to serious complications such as stroke or heart failure. Through review and analysis of clinical trial data, patients who took fish oil experienced a lower recurrence rate of AF (46.8%) compared to the placebo group (73.4%), though the difference was not statistically significant. I also examined two supplemental studies …

Peer Mentoring Service Learning At The L.E.A.D. Scholars Academy, Estefanie D. Parra

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

As a second-year LEAD Scholar, I’m excited to share my experience as a Peer Mentor for first-year scholars enrolled in LDR 2001. In my presentation, I share my personal definition of peer mentor, reflecting on the personal growth and lessons I have learned throughout my semester as a Peer Mentor. I will also explore the role of service learning through peer mentoring within the L.E.A.D. Scholars Academy, highlighting how mentoring not only supports the academic and personal growth of first-year students but also develops leadership skills. Overall, this has been an incredibly rewarding journey that has deeply impacted me.

Preserving Nature, Building Community, Alyson Spence

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

The scope of my project included volunteering at the Oakland Nature Preserve and restoring the park grounds after the effects of hurricanes Helene and Milton. My key activities were clearing downed trees, clearing trails of leaves, and marking them with logs so that the preserve could continue to be a place for people to enjoy nature. In interacting with the staff and other volunteers, I learned about the importance of community in supporting important causes. Additionally, it made me more inspired to reduce my carbon footprint and be more sustainable in my efforts to combat climate change, as well as …

Inorganic Arsenite [I-As (Iii)] Represses Human Renal Progenitor Cell Characteristics And Induces Neoplastic-Like Transformation, Md Ehsanul Haque

Theses and Dissertations

Studies on populations exposed to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have shown an association between this particular exposure and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, there are few studies addressing how acute exposure of the human kidney to iAs might lead to long-term alterations that might lead to CKD or RCC. This study’s hypothesis is that renal exposure to iAs might alter the renal cells responsible for the repair and regeneration of nephrons damaged by iAs exposure or other renal toxicants. The kidney possesses a minority epithelial cell population that co-express PROM1 and CD24 that …

Evaluation Of Schlafen Family Proteins In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Savannah Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the role of Schlafen (SLFN) family proteins in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), a subtype known for its aggressive behavior and poor response to treatment. Through a series of studies, this dissertation examines the interplay between multiple SLFN proteins, chemotherapy resistance, and immune modulation, revealing the potential of SLFN12 as both a biomarker and therapeutic target for improving treatment outcomes, particularly in overcoming chemoresistance in TNBC.

Breast cancer, the most common cancer worldwide, includes various subtypes like TNBC, which lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making it resistant to conventional therapies. SLFN proteins, first discovered in mice, regulate …

Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity And Adaptive Responses In Renal Progenitor Cells: Molecular Insights From Transcriptomic And Proteomic Analyses, Eloho Ighofose

Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent known for its efficacy against various solid tumors, but its clinical utility is limited by dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. The renal proximal tubule, particularly its epithelial cell population, is highly susceptible to cisplatin-induced injury due to its role in solute transport and high metabolic activity. Recent advances suggest that renal progenitor cells play a key role in epithelial repair following nephrotoxic injury; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their response to cisplatin remain poorly understood.This study investigates the impact of both acute and chronic cisplatin exposure on immortalized human renal progenitor cells (HRTPT, CD24⁺/CD133⁺) using a …

Sharing Your Science: Special 2025 Edition, Wilson Gonzalez-Espada

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The Sharing your Science stories were completed as part of a 2025 Science Communication Summer Internship (COMM 647), a collaboration between the Kentucky Academy of Science and the Departments of Engineering Sciences and Communication, Media, Art & Design, Morehead State University, KY. This work was made available as an Open Educational Resource thanks to the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, the Camden-Carroll Library, and the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Morehead State University.

Development Of A Rapid And Efficient Molecular Triage Workflow For Non-Semen Containing Digital Penetration Evidence, Lauren J. Crawford

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Sexual assault is commonly thought of as penile penetration of the vagina, without consent from the victim. It was only in 2011 that the Uniform Crime Report definition of rape was updated to include the following: “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without consent of the victim.” Digital penetration of the vagina (penetration with fingers) is the subject of this study. DNA analysis can identify individual contributors of a DNA profile. The body fluid origin of biological evidence can give …

Environmental Fate Of Trace Anionic Fission Byproducts: An Analysis Of Redox, Sorption, And Incorporation Pathways Of Iodine And Selenium, Ilana B. Szlamkowicz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The environmental chemistry and mobility of iodine and selenium contaminants were investigated through redox interactions with manganese oxides and incorporation into carbonate minerals. The study examined iodide (I^-) and selenite (SeO₃^2-) oxidation under varying pH conditions using manganese oxide minerals, which are geochemical regulators. Using tandem ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS), the oxidation and speciation of iodine and selenium were quantified under environmentally relevant conditions. The results demonstrate that oxidation of I^- and SeO₃^2- by manganese oxides are highly concentration dependent. Acid birnessite, a common manganese oxide, exhibited significant reactivity toward …

Increasing Access Through Graduate Teaching Assistant Training: A Udl-Informed, Video-Based Professional Development Approach For Inclusive Chemistry Instruction, Kathleen Lugo Charriez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

STEM courses pose concealed barriers to learning for students with disabilities, a demographic that constitutes a significant portion of postsecondary science and engineering undergraduate student populations. While extensive research has examined access and inclusiveness in K–12 education and, to a more limited extent, in higher education, there remains a critical gap in understanding how to proactively design undergraduate chemistry curricula that are both accessible and inclusive for a diverse range of learners. In particular, limited attention has been given to supporting Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) in adopting inclusive instructional practices in higher education chemistry courses.

In large academic institutions, GTAs …

Development And Utility Of Single Sperm Genetic Analysis Methods To Aid In Sexual Assault Investigations, Morgan S. Grim

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Following a sexual assault, the ability to obtain an autosomal short tandem repeat (aSTR) profile of a semen contributor diminishes rapidly and is often not possible for intervals exceeding 48-72 hours. This partially stems from limitations with DNA extraction and typing systems used. Routine analysis typically uses differential extraction (i.e. separating sperm and non-sperm cells). This can make fragile sperm prematurely lyse, causing the sperm DNA to become overwhelmed by the amount of victim epithelial DNA. While Y-chromosome STRs (Y-STRs) target male DNA despite abundant female DNA, Y-STR haplotypes are less discriminatory than aSTR profiles. To address these issues, this …

Development Of Degraders To Target Oncogenic Proteins And Efforts Towards The Total Synthesis Of Lycopodium Alkaloids Via Oxidative Dearomatization, Yujia Bian

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation focuses on the degradation of SOS1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor upstream of KRAS, as an alternative therapeutic target for KRAS‑mutant colorectal cancer (CRC). Guided by crystal structures of SOS1 and cereblon, we designed and synthesized a series of PROTACs based on quinazoline‑linker‑lenalidomide hybrids. Among these, the lead degrader induced up to 92% degradation of SOS1 in CRC cell lines and patient‑derived organoids (PDOs), with excellent specificity. In parallel, an AICAR‑derived PROTAC targeting the transmembrane oncoprotein MUC1‑CT in EGFR‑mutant lung cancer achieved time‑dependent and partial target degradation, establishing complementary chemical tools to probe intracellular signaling and …

Evaluating Health And Immune Proxies Within And Across Sea Turtle Life Stages, Tiffany M. Dawson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Understanding variations in health and immune function across life stages or physiological states is important for population monitoring and for understanding species’ responses to anthropogenic disturbances. Sea turtles are a model species for evaluating these changes within and across life stages due to their long lifespans with ontogenetic habitat and diet shifts. In this dissertation, I tested whether health and immune hematological proxies (Packed Cell Volume [PCV], white blood cell counts, total protein [TP], biochemistry) differed: (1) across the reproductive season, (2) between species and (3) foraging groups, and (4) with reproductive output for adult female turtles (Chapter 2). In …

Field-Resolved Metrology For Attosecond Timing, Christopher A. Lantigua

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Ultrashort pulses of light have opened new frontiers in both fundamental science and applied technology. The short duration and large bandwidth of these pulses has enabled time-resolved spectroscopy of atomic and molecular dynamics at their natural timescales, allowing direct observation of ultrafast processes in these systems which is essential to our fundamental understanding of material behavior. Alongside these optical developments, free-electron lasers (FELs) have advanced the generation of attosecond X-ray pulses. These state-of-the-art facilities allow scientist to probe even deeper into the atomic nature of matter. To access these dynamics, pump-probe experiments are run in which a short optical pulse …

Ab Initio Studies Of Electrochemical Processes: Insights Into Co2 Reduction And Hydrogen Evolution Reactions, Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has spurred intense interest in sustainable technologies that enable both carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization and hydrogen production. This thesis explores these challenges through a combination of electrochemical simulations, surface science, and experimental validation. Central to the study is the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), which offers a promising route for converting CO2 into fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity. We begin by addressing the limitations of traditional modeling approaches for electrochemical systems. A hybrid explicit-implicit solvation model (SOLHYBRID) and an electrode potential control algorithm (TPOT) were developed to simulate the electrochemical interface …

Optomechanical Interactions And Dynamics In Nanoparticle Systems, Sohila Abdelhafiz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates the coupling between optical forces and the dynamics of nanoparticle systems. Using theoretical models, simulations and experiments, we explore how light mediates interactions between nanoparticles leading to optical binding, nonreciprocal forces, and collective behavior in colloidal suspensions.

We first examine the dynamics and interactions of particles under illumination due to complex electromagnetic forces. Of particular interest are interparticle forces between particles with specific optical properties such as those satisfying the Kerker scattering conditions. We demonstrate the wavelength-dependent dynamics of such Kerker dimers and establish conditions required for their stable longitudinal binding. We also describe a one-way non-reciprocal …

Viability For Locally Monotone Evolution Inclusions And Lower Semicontinuous Solutions Of Halmilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equations In Infinite Dimensions, Jichao Jiang

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In this thesis we first study the necessary and sufficient conditions for differential inclusion driven by locally monotone operator in the sense of Liu and Röckner [J. Funct. Anal., 259 (2010), pp. 2902-2922]. The main result of our work provides a necessary and sufficient condition for a set K being viable, that is, a solution of the differential inclusion stay inside of the set K through out the time interval. We then examine the path-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations (path-dependent HJB equations) associated to the optimal control problem with states controlled by evolution inclusions. With our results on viability, we …

Motion Extrapolation And Motion Dynamics: Are The Motion Dynamics Of Friction Utilized During Motion Extrapolation To Inform Time-To-Contact Estimations?, Genna Telschow

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Cognitive processing delays should cause us to respond too late when making time-to-contact estimations. According to the theory of constructivism, the brain accounts for these delays by supplementing sensory information with higher level cognitive information to create an accurate motion percept. Across the attention, memory, and motion extrapolation literatures there is evidence supporting the use of higher-level information, like motion dynamics, to supplement our visual input. Specifically, previous research suggests we may account for friction’s constraints on motion when interacting with dynamic stimuli. The current research utilizes features that represent friction as both a stopping agent and a motion catalyst …

Parents’ Adverse Childhood Experiences And Young Children’S Behavior Problems: Examining Protective Moderating And Mediating Factors, Kaitlyn M. Daleandro

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are childhood exposures to abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. ACEs have been linked to a cumulative negative impact on later adult physical and psychological well-being. Parents who carry ACEs often have difficulties in parenting, which have, in turn, been linked to young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Nonetheless, some parents who carry ACEs develop positive parenting strategies. Very little is known about how such outcomes occur. A growing area of research concerns protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) that buffer against the negative consequences of ACEs. PACEs may improve deficits in cognitive, emotional, and neurobiological systems …

Impacts Of Susceptibility To Peer Influence And Fomo On Viewing Alcohol-Related Content On Social Media, Alcohol Expectancies, And Alcohol Use, Callie L. Wang

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

PURPOSE: Young adult (YA) alcohol use remains a significant public health problem, and may be influenced by alcohol expectancies developed through exposure to peers’ alcohol related content (ARC) on social media. This study examined the associations among ARC exposure, alcohol expectancies and alcohol use among YAs, and how susceptibility to peer influence and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) may influence these relations. METHOD: YAs in the United States who endorsed consuming 1-2 standard drinks per month (N=371) completed surveys measuring ARC exposure, alcohol expectancies, susceptibility to peer influence, FoMO, and alcohol use at baseline and at 4- and 8-week follow …

The Role Of Social Media On Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Self-Esteem Imposter Phenomenon, And Identity Distress, Julie Hall

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis explored the relationships between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), self-esteem, masking, Imposter Phenomenon (IP), and identity distress, along with the role in which social media integration plays in these relationships. Participants (N = 500) were recruited through SONA, a research recruitment database, and completed an anonymous online survey for course credit. Those who met the DSM-5 -TR criteria for ADHD had higher levels of IP, integration of social media, and Identity Distress, but lower levels of self-esteem compared to students who did not meet criteria for ADHD. This study is the first to explore the link between ADHD and …

Hallucinogen Usage, Experiencing Mystical Phenomena, And Transformational Identity Change, Cameron Hyder

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study seeks to understand the therapeutic potential of multiple prominent hallucinogens (LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Cannabis, and DMT) by examining corresponding posttraumatic growth, transformational identity change, and experience(s) of mystical phenomena. College students (N = 278) completed an anonymous online survey. The data was analyzed to assess hallucinogen usage history and possible changes, as well as any significant differences between each hallucinogen. Participants were first asked about their hallucinogen usage including which hallucinogens they have specifically used, number of uses, age of first use, and the last time they used. They were also asked to rate their short-term vs …

Firefighter Syndrome: Improving The Identification And Classification Of Firefighters In Need, Michael A. Schlenk

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Firefighters (FFs) exhibit a multitude of behavioral and physical health concerns as well as fluctuating social support due to their occupation. Despite the fire service enacting preventative approaches to health and wellness, FFs still report increased prevalences of health concerns at the end of their career. Firefighter syndrome was created to identify FFs in need of medical care (e.g., behavioral and physical health services, Frueh et al., 2022b). The purpose of this study is to validate the construct of FF Syndrome by using statistical classification techniques to investigate whether there is a latent group of firefighters that have the symptoms …

Exosomes: Historical Evolution And Emerging Roles In Dermatology, Nina Schur, Luna Samman, Milaan Shah, Victoria Dukharan, Carol Stegura, Luke Broughton, Todd Schlesinger

GME Publications

Background: Exosomes are a nanoscale extracellular vesicles derived from different cell types that have been investigated for various clinical applications, including functioning as biomarkers and use as direct therapeutics. Given the role of exosomes in multiple pathophysiologic pathways and potential practical applications, they have garnered significant interest in the scientific community but much is still unknown about their development and use.

Aims: This literature review covers the background, mechanisms of action, use as biomarkers, methods of application, and direct therapeutic applications of exosomes.

Methods: A literature review on the background and uses of exosomes was conducted. Key articles describing the …